There are a few things you need to take when you go camping. The last thing you want to discover after pitching a tent is that you left the cooking gear at home. Fear not—that shovel in the back of the car can be repurposed and used to cook over the fire.

If you have time to plan ahead, you could build a rocket stove from food cans, or reuse an aluminum can as a way to cook your food. For those times when you don't have enough cooking pots, or have none at all, a good, clean shovel is a great way to cook your steaks—or your veggies if you prefer. Don't forget to steer away from galvanized metal and utensils containing lead because of the risk of zinc and lead poisoning.

We've previously covered larger rocket stoves designed to heat your home, but now we have a…
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Even if you don't have a cooking emergency, it could be an interesting talking point for a grill-off. Of course, you'll need to clean the shovel before you throw your food on it. We've already looked how you can clean dishes with wood ash, so if that's all you have, it should work.